NEURODIVERSITY ADHD IN POLICING


Officer Daley Jones’ diagnosis was a long time coming but now he says he and others with neurodiversity can thrive in an adapted work place


HOW CAN WE ALL SUPPORT NEURO-


DIVERSITY IN THE


I first encountered the Met and considered the prospect of becoming a police officer at a graduate fair, and on February 12, 2007, found myself at Hendon, ready for 17 weeks of training. Just like many other rookie officers, I struggled during my probation but, in my case, it did not end there. Subconsciously, I gravitated towards the CID because it gave me exactly what my undiagnosed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) mind craved – a structured day. I left the Met in 2017 for a job in the


private sector and failed miserably. Today, it is apparent to me it was directly connected to my ADHD. Lack of organisation, a struggle with grammar and ‘boring work’, and the feeling of losing out on what I thought was my dream job were all a real blow to my mental health. The following year I re-joined the Met, and I remain grateful to them for accepting me back into the ranks. It was not until the end of 2019 that I decided to get myself examined. I opted for the Right To Choose NHS scheme, where private organisations receive funding to diagnose and treat people with ADHD. Two years later, after a series of tests


and screenings, I was diagnosed with Combined ADHD, a neurobehavioral disorder characterised by both hyperactivity as well as inattention. The biggest benefit of my diagnosis, and subsequent medication, has been the


44 | POLICE | OCTOBER 2022


precise understanding of what it means to have ADHD. My wife and I have had many light bulb moments: “Aha, that’s why I do that”. She is an immensely patient woman and her willingness to understand me and my condition has been the biggest blessing of my life. I have recently received funding from the Department of Work and Pensions for bespoke ADHD counselling and coaching, and I am learning as much as I can in case my daughter is diagnosed with the condition as there is a strong hereditary link. Awareness about ADHD is woefully


inadequate. I write about my experiences in my private space on social media and I have helped create a support service called Metropolitan Police ADHD Alliance. Although it’s a Met support group, we also have members from other forces. I would like to see the Met and other


regions roll out a staff training program to create awareness about ADHD and other neurodiverse conditions, to foster the compassion and care we deserve.


For more information or to join the ADHD Alliance support group please email StaffSupportMailbox-.ADHD@met. police.uk DC Daley Jones may be reached at daley.jones@met.pnn.police.uk, daley.jones84@hotmail.com


WORKPLACE? I think ADHD is widely seen as the poor relation on the neurodiverse spectrum. It is often easier to fixate on the behaviour rather than the cause, and to pigeonhole people. I have been heartened by some great work done locally by workplace representatives in supporting members with ADHD, not only during the long process of diagnosis but also in helping members and the force make reasonable adaptions as per the law. The Equality Act is quite clear that forces have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments for officers with a disability. I am sure we all appreciate that workplace adaptions to accommodate visible physical injuries are very effectively managed with the help of specialist kit. However, adaptions must also be made for disabilities which are not visible or apparent. For instance, day-to-day work instructions are given and represented via email. But when we are juggling several tasks wouldn’t it be helpful if a reminder popped up via email so that none of the tasks are missed? For someone with an Altered Cognitive Process, such as ADHD, providing reminders could be an important workplace adaption. Forces must understand that workplace adaptions are not barriers or ‘freebies’; they are put in place so that disabled officers can work on a level playing field. If you are struggling with neurodiversity issues and need support, I would urge you to seek out your local Federation representative. They receive training in equalities and in many cases attend regular Continuous Professional Development programs around the subject. They can advise and advocate for you to get the workplace adaptions you may need to flourish within policing and achieve your full potential.


Brett Grange, Equality Lead, Greater Manchester Police Federation


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48